Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Iceland I 2011

O, ok and I, were very excited when we got on our Iceland
Airways flight to discover that there were individual tv screens in the backs
of the seats. We touched down at Keflavik airport at quarter to 4 ish and went to pick
up our hire car, raiding the tourist information office in the airport for free
maps. We were a little apprehensive about potentially driving in snow and ice
but the hire car came with winter tyres (feels like you’re driving on flat
tyres) as standard and heated seats (essential). From the airport, we headed
straight to find our hotel which for our first night was part hostel/part
hotel, cheap and almost cheerful but it served us. Once we’d checked in we
headed straight to the supermarket for supplies shocked that the shops don’t
have very long opening hours. Once we had our supplies, we headed out for a
walk from our hotel.

We headed up to the Perlan, which was quite stunning at
night. During the day you can go in – you can also go in at night I think, to
eat but it is vvv expensive. From there we walked to the shore to see the heated
beach, which is either not on at night or not on during the winter but it was
not warm. We walked home through the graveyard, which is apparently stunning
during the day. It wasn’t bad at night, is very well lit, and feels safe if not a bit bizarre to be walking through a graveyard. For
tea, we followed a recommendation by Cakes and Bunting and went for fish and
chips http://www.fishandchips.is/
it was lovely yummy food. After dinner, we went to the swimming pool. http://www.swimminginiceland.com/ Laugardalslaug for our first experience.
Thankfully Cakes and Bunting had warned us of the strict routine that you need to follow
when swimming in Iceland so it wasn’t a shock. You leave your shoes outside of
the changing rooms. Take off all your clothes and leave them in your locker.
Take your swimming costume and towel with you from the changing room to the
“wet” area where there are cubby holes for your towel. Here you must shower naked then you put on
your swimming costume and make the very cold dash to the nearest bit of hot
water you can find. There was a British school group at the pool and they were
very loud and boisterous so sort of spoiled the experience. We soon realised
how much of a social experience swimming is for the Icelandic there are always
loads of conversations going on and you feel a little out of place if you’re in
a hot pot without anyone to talk to. After
the pool you go and shower – they have absolutely no qualms about being naked
and you get strange looks for being in your costume and trying to hide behind
your towel. You dry yourself in the wet area and only then should you return to
your locker. You get dirty looks from the Icelandic women if you trek your wet
self through the dry area.

After all that we collapsed at our hotel and prepared for
the next day.

We had similar experience with the public baths in Switzerland. The showers and change rooms are shared by both genders & if you're in the sauna (also not gender specific) you have to be naked. The Swiss think that wearing your bathers in the sauna is unhygienic.

My husband has a theory that by seeing so many different naked bodies that aren't airbrushed or perfect model/porno bodies that it would lead to a healthier body image. I tend to agree.

Did I ever tell you about my experience of bath houses in Japan (you have to be naked the whole time)... never felt so British in my whole life!! ;) I've always loved the idea of the Icelandic hot pools though so I might have to brave up again one day!!

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